Based on the "Collaboration"-workshop of January 2017 (see also ERM-News) now a draft-model to optimize the Total Supply Chain has been designed and will be discussed in a follow-up Meeting in the end of June in Hamburg.

Due to its importance for the sector the group has decided to use this draft (Download the Draft) as an open-platform for discussions at University Chairs or within companies along the chain from farm to fork. The assessment of those groups about the practicability, relevance and value of the model can be sent to Colin Peacock.

30.04.2017: African Insight

Based on the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (2013) and the Malabo Declaration (2014) the University of Nairobi/Kenya and its partners invited for the First All Africa Congress about Postharvest Losses.

A total of 71 studies were presented either as PhD-studies or as technical solutions for those specific problems of Africa. If the postharvest losses could be stopped - the Africa could feed itself! Among the evaluators in the presentation slots from Europe also were Toine Timmermans/NL, FUSIONS/REFRESH, and Prof.Dr.Bernd Hallier/Germany, European Retail Academy (more: www.european-retail-academy.org/AgriBusinessForum).

10.03.2017: CSR-Award

In 1949 Werner Otto started in Hamburg the (catalogue)-mail-order house "OTTO" - today a leader in Europe. In 1971 his son Dr.Michael Otto joined his father's company and became its CEO in 1981. In 1986 he discovered sustainability and the environment as company targets - being also the first in German Trade to introduce ISO 14 001 for environmental retail management.

In 2017 Michael Otto is awarded by the German CSR-Forum for his longstanding activities during his time as CEO and later President of the Otto-Group as well as for the outstanding private sponsorship for many projects in the broad scope of economics, ecology and ethics. For 2020 the Otto-Group wants to reduce its CO2-emissions by 50 percent compared to the year 2006.

15.02.2017: Zero Hunger

Especially for Africa the big gap between demand and supply for food becomes an increasing problem: see SLIDE SHOW. Therefore, in March 29th - 31st 2017 Nairobi University will organize a First African FoodWaste Conference (LINK) - parallel starts an Awareness Campaign with an exhibition of the Gallery of Nairobi Museum. The painting "Challenge Food Waste" of Marie-Christin Hallier will be one contribution from Germany.

The European Retail Academy supports research in this field already for several years. As a Zero Version about the inclusion of Food Banks served its printed booklet "Food Waste Management" (LINK: e-Learning); also as a kick-off for PhD-research in Mexico by Alina Pukhovskaya. Now also ECR-Austria published Guide Lines for an ethical and sustainable approach (LINK Blue BOOK).

19.01.2017: Collaboration

Jointly the ECR Community Shrinkage & On-shelf Availability Group and the Kuehne Logistics University (KLU) invited for an international workshop " Sell more - Waste less" to the KLU HQ in Hamburg/Germany.